Pages

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Well... That Sucked

As of this writing (Sunday), I'm way behind my writing goals. Namely my Nano plans. I had hoped to get a huge amount ahead early on during the month and coast through the rest of the month, but instead I got behind almost right off the bat. I've got a great idea for a novel that has been percolating for a while. I'd outlined it and once I started writing I got derailed right off the bat. Figures. Now I'm back to trying to figure out what I want to write as I write... I don't encourage that behavior. The big hope is that I'll write myself right back into my outline.

Still, it's fun, and I'm writing. I may be posting about my story for the next few weeks. Maybe make it a public brainstorming session. Maybe not. Just be prepared.

I don't think you should ever scratch a part of something you're writing until it's complete. Self-editing as you write will inhibit you. Just write whatever it is and if you write yourself into a corner, write yourself back out of the corner.

Someone once told me that the best way to beat writer's block is just to start writing, even if all you write is "I don't know what to write because I've got writer's block..." and go on from there. You could use that when you think you've written something bad: write it to the end of the bad part and then beyond, and even if you use some terrible writer's device to get out of the jam...

*... and then, as Jerky McWonderJerk stared at the heroic Commander Hero, and started to pull the trigger on the Weapon Of Incredible Doom, he could only gaze in dismayed awe, or awed dismay, or even both, as suddenly a rip in space-time opened up and a stranger in odd clothes walked in, surveyed the scene, and, without even seeming to blink, held up a single uncovered hand to block the death ray emanating from the Incredible Weapon of Doom, which deflected back into Jerky and killed him.

'I'm sorry,' said the stranger, 'But I'm the author of this story and I can't go on with this. We're getting out of here..." and he kissed the hot blonde that I forgot to mention was there and disappeared...*

even if you do THAT, you can then get Commander Hero where you want him to be, and fix it in the second draft. But the important part is that you didn't edit yourself and get rid of something that because of self-doubt you didn't like when it might have been really good.

Also, that excerpt from Captain Hero Vs. The Weapon of Incredible Doom is trademark me.

Cindy - All I got left is to kill them. I've run out of other bad things to do.

Deborah - yes please.

Michael - Yes I am, I figure, in the end, even if it's all gone to hell, I can still chalk it up as a good reason I shouldn't write fantasy.

Briane - Don't you hate it when you spend all this time writing something clever, witty, well thought out, and then someone comes along and focuses on the most minor detail and totally ignores all the brilliant stuff you said so they can harp on that one little thing? Well, right now I'm that guy... can you really trademark an excerpt? I'm not intellectual property expert, but the whole thing sounds fishy to me.